Are the Jews and Christians who exist nowadays mushrikeen (polytheists) and is it permissible to marry their women?

Question

What is the ruling on marrying a Jewish or Christian woman? Are the Jews and Christians of this age regarded as people of the Book or as mushrikeen?.

Answer

Praise be to Allaah.

Marriage to a Jewish or Christian woman is
permissible according to the view of the majority of scholars. Ibn Qudaamah
(may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Mughni (7/99):

There is no difference of opinion among the
scholars concerning the permissibility of marrying free women of the people
of the Book. Among those from whom this view was narrated are ‘Umar,
‘Uthmaan, Talhah, Hudhayfah, Salmaan, Jaabir, and others.

Ibn al-Mundhir said: There is no sound
narration from any of the earliest generation to suggest that this is
haraam. Al-Khallaal narrated, with his isnaad, that Hudhayfah, Talhah,
al-Jaarood ibn al-Mu’alla and Udhaynah al-‘Abdi all married women from among
the people of the Book. This was also the view of the rest of the scholars.

The main evidence concerning that is the
verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Made lawful to you this day are At Tayyibaat
[all kinds of Halaal (lawful) foods, which Allaah has made lawful (meat of
slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits)].
The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals) of the people of the
Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to
them. (Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the believers and
chaste women from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians)
before your time when you have given their due Mahr (bridal-money given by
the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), desiring chastity (i.e.
taking them in legal wedlock) not committing illegal sexual intercourse, nor
taking them as girlfriends. And whosoever disbelieves in Faith, [i.e. in the
Oneness of Allaah and in all the other Articles of Faith i.e. His (Allaah’s)
Angels, His Holy Books, His Messengers, the Day of Resurrection and Al Qadar
(Divine Preordainments)], then fruitless is his work; and in the Hereafter
he will be among the losers”

[al-Maa'idah 5:5]

What is meant by muhsanah (translated here as
chaste) is free and chaste women. Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him)
said in his Tafseer:

This is the view of the majority here, and
this is what appears to be the case; lest she not only be a dhimmiyah but
also unchaste, in which case she will be totally corrupt and her husband
will end up as described in the proverb, “He bought bad dates and was
cheated in weights and measures too”. The apparent meaning of the verse is
that what is meant by al-muhsanaat (chaste women) is women who refrain from
zina, as Allaah says in another verse (interpretation of the meaning):

“they (the above said slave-girls) should be
chaste [muhsanaat], not committing illegal sex, nor taking boyfriends”

[al-Nisa’ 4:25]

The Christians and Jews are kuffaar and
mushrikeen, according to the Qur’aan, but they are excluded from the
prohibition on marrying their women, because Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):

“And do not marry Al-Mushrikaat
(idolatresses) till they believe (worship Allaah Alone). And indeed a slave
woman who believes is better than a (free) Mushrikah (idolatress), even
though she pleases you”

[al-Baqarah 2:221]

This is the clearest way of reconciling
between the two verses.

Allaah has described them as being mushrikeen
as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis
and their monks to be their lords besides Allaah (by obeying them in things
which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without
being ordered by Allaah), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of
Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded [in the
Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] to worship none but One Ilaah (God
— Allaah) Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He).
Praise and glory be to Him (far above is He) from having the partners they
associate (with Him)”

[al-Tawbah 9:31]

So they are kuffaar and mushrikeen, but
Allaah has permitted us to eat their meat and to marry their women if they
are chaste. This is an exemption from the general meaning of the verse in
Soorat al-Baqarah.

But it should be noted that it is better and
safer not to marry women of the people of the Book, especially nowadays. Ibn
Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “… as this is the case, it is
better not to marry a woman of the people of the Book, because ‘Umar said to
those who married women of the people of the Book: ‘Divorce them,’ so they
divorced them, except Hudhayfah. ‘Umar said to him: ‘Divorce her.’
(Hudhayfah) said: ‘Do you bear witness that she is haraam?’ He said: ‘She is
a live coal, divorce her.’ He said: ‘Do you bear witness that she is
haraam?’ He said: ‘She is a live coal.’ He said: ‘I know that she is a live
coal, but she is permissible for me.’ A while later, he divorced her and it
was said to him: ‘Why did you not divorce her when ‘Umar commanded you to?’
He said: ‘I did not want the people to think that I had done something wrong
(by marrying her).’ Perhaps he was fond of her or perhaps they had a child
together so he was fond of her.”

Al-Mughni, 7/99

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on
him) said: “If the woman of the people of the Book is known to be chaste and
to keep away from the means that lead to immorality, it is permissible,
because Allaah has permitted that and has permitted us to marry their woman
and eat their meat.

“But nowadays there is the fear that those
who marry them may be faced with much evil. They may call him to their
religion and that may lead to their children being raised as Christians. So
the danger is very real and very serious. To be on the safe side, the
believer should not marry them. And in most cases there is no guarantee that
the woman will not commit immoral actions, or bring along children from a
previous relationship… but if the man needs to do that then there is no sin
on him, so that he can keep himself chaste and lower his gaze by being
married to her. He should strive to call her to Islam and beware of her evil
and of allowing her to drag him or the children towards kufr.”